Foundation Partners Tertiary Institutions to Empower Agriculture Graduates
This competitive program provides grants to at least four graduates annually, aiming to prepare future generations to address the challenges of feeding a growing population, nurturing unique young talents, promoting interest in sustainable agriculture, and fostering the establishment of agricultural enterprises among young graduates.
AKACHI NOEL 
In recognition of youths’ pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape and their potential to thrive as agripreneurs, the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) is pioneering initiatives for youth empowerment and agricultural innovation.
At the core of these efforts is a strategic partnership with the University of Ilorin, initiated during BATN’s visit to the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Wahab Egbewole in February 2024, representing a significant leap toward nurturing young graduates into successful agripreneurs through the Graduate Agripreneur Project (GAP).
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The Graduate Agripreneur Project aims to foster the development of agribusiness enterprises among postgraduates and undergraduates in agricultural faculties of tertiary institutions. This competitive program provides grants to at least four graduates annually, aiming to prepare future generations to address the challenges of feeding a growing population, nurturing unique young talents, promoting interest in sustainable agriculture, and fostering the establishment of agricultural enterprises among young graduates.
BATN Foundation has partnered with renowned institutions such as the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), and the University of Ibadan, where the Graduate Agripreneur Program already made notable strides. A newly formed partnership with the University of Ilorin marks a significant milestone in extending the program’s reach and encouraging agricultural entrepreneurship. Open to graduates, masters, and Ph.D. students from partnering institutions, the program offers a gateway for aspiring agripreneurs to realize their potential.
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“We are thrilled to welcome the University of Ilorin into our ecosystem of Youth empowerment,” said Oludare Odusanya, General Manager, BATN Foundation. Emphasizing the pivotal role of youth in national economic development, he added, “Empowering the youth to become successful agripreneurs is not merely an investment in their future; it is an investment in the future of our nation. By nurturing young talent, we contribute to the growth and sustainability of the agricultural sector and, consequently, the economy as a whole.”
In response, the University of Ilorin Vice-Chancellor Professor Wahab Egbewole, welcomed the BATN Foundation team to the University.
